British military opens combat roles to women soldiers

Women are to be allowed to serve in combat roles by 2016 as Prime Minister David Cameron orders the military to drop the ban on female soldiers on the front line.

Cameron told the Telegraph on Sunday it is time for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to “finish the job” and allow women, who were recently permitted into the previously all-male submarine service, to join combat units.

“The defence secretary [Michael Fallon] and I are united in wanting to see all roles in our armed forces opened up to women in 2016,” the prime minister said.

No problem with women in combat roles. But dont fudge the unique training standards of the British Army in order to do it.

“We’ve already lifted a number of barriers in our armed forces with the introduction of female submariners and women reaching the highest ranks in all services.

“We should finish the job next year and open up ground combat roles to women,” he said.

The move will be seen as risky by old-school military officers, who have long said women in combat units could damage cohesion.Lifting the ban would bring the UK in line with the US military, which has itself dropped segregation.

With women in combat roles, surely if there's one who can meet the standards (and of course there is), they should be allowed #radio4today